My Tips For Dealing With Dysautonomia

I know many people have not visted my website so I have decided to take some info from my tips page and paste it on here. Enjoy!!!

ELIMINATE STRESS FROM YOUR LIFE! I can not say this enough! Stress can increase the severity of all your symptoms, it can make your condition worse and prevent you from feeling better. Yes, life is full of stressful and while there’s no to avoid it completely but there are some things you can do to help.

MUSIC:for me is a huge de-stresser. Calming, quiet, inspirational, or religious music played throughout your home or room.

AROMATHERAPHY:
such as Lavender scented candles or oils are good to use because Lavender has aromatherapy properties that decrease stress.

LAUGHING:Talk to a funny friend, read a funny book, watch a comedy, and etc you get the idea.

• Most importantly, surround yourself with positive people that actually care about you, respect your illness, and want to help you feel better. This makes a huge difference.
• SLEEP: Even though it is tough for most of us with Dysautonomia I can not tell you enough about the importantce of rest and adequate sleep. You should be getting at least 6 to 9 hours of sleep. Listen to your body, rest and take breaks when needed.

HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE!! Drink, drink, drink! Water is the best thing to drink. You should avoid any sugary drinks and caffeinated drinks. Sports beverages like Powerade and Gatorade are good too since they have sodium.

SALT: Salt is usually recommended for most Dysautonomia patients that have Orthostatic Intolerance, POTS, or Neurocardiogenic Syncope. I myself can not do this due to high blood pressure and edema issues. For those of you who do need the extra salt here are my suggestions

• salt your foods.
• V-8 juices are a  great source of sodium and so are sport drinks.
• I would NOT recommend taking salt tablets because they cause most of the salt to stay in your abdomen and this could dehydrate you.

SUPPLEMENTS. Every person is different so certain supplements may or may not be right with you. Talk to your Doctor to figure out which supplements are right for you.

Magnesium, Calcium, and a B-Complex (for nerve health, bone and muscle health, and energy) Vitamin C and Zinc (for immune system function),  Iron (for those of us that are anemic), and Probiotics or other healthy bacteria that improve the function of the digestive system. I would also get your vitamin D levels checked. I have found out that most POTS patients have a vitamin D deficiency and if you do you should be taking some sort of vitamin D. When buying supplements you should make sure they are of high quality and trusted brand since most supplements are not required to follow FDA regulations.

SUPPORT GROUPS. They are a great way to stay emotionally stable and find comfort in knowing you are not alone. If there is not a support group in your area maybe you can try and start one.

Vist dinet.org and meet others in your area who share your illness. Prayer or help groups in your church. Even online support groups. You could also see a therapist. For me my Therapist and the dinet.org forum have helped me out tremendously.

LIVE life at your OWN pace. Being diagnosed after having lived a “normal” life ,your life can seem so slow. Just know that it is normal to grieve over your “old-self”. I know I did and I still am. You should never feel pressured to keep up with this fast-paced world that we live in.

• Being diagnosed with Dysautonomia or any other chronic disease for that matter will require many major lifestyle changes. YOU HAVE to find ways to work around them so that you will not feel down and depressed.
• Find new hobbies that are not physically exhausting. Spend time with your family member and friends in a relaxed environment.
• Don’t try to please everyone around you by pushing yourself too far or hiding how you really feel. You’re not doing yourself any good. Don’t feel or be embarrassed or ashamed! This illness does NOT define you and who you are. You should count you blessing and be glad because it could be worse. Live you life to the fullest.


Find a QUALIFIED doctor!! This is so important!
I would recommend seeing a specialist in Dysautonomia above anything else. You will receive the best care from a doctor who understands and knows how to treat this disorder.

• If you happen to live in or around the Mississippi area please contact me and I can refer you to come really great doctors who have helped me.
• Make sure you have a doctor who takes you seriously and is sympathetic towards your condition. YOU have to be your own advocate. ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF!!!
• Be assertive when dealing with your health. Dysautonomia is rare and misdiagnosed often. Most doctors do not know or understand, it’s not their fault. Do your research!! If you feel like you are not getting the right kind of medical treatment then find another doctor.

Don’t get discouraged. Just keep trying, and keep fighting. Have a positive attitude and a positive outlook on life. If you think negative all the time then the worse you will feel. Be thankful for all that you can do in life, don’t dwell on the things that you cannot do. Someone is always much worse off than you are.



For those of you who are religious, HAVE FAITH!!! God has put this in your life for a reason. Know that things will get better; if you put your trust in Jesus he will heal you. He is not limited to the things that he can do. If you don’t have HOPE or FAITH then you will fall. I know if I didn’t not have hope that I will get better than I would just want to give up and quit fighting. Jesus is the healer of all healers.